Glen Chapple has cited a lack of consistency as the reason for Lancashire's slow start to their Division One title defence.

Lancashire captain Glen Chapple has cited a lack of consistency as the reason for the Red Rose county's slow start to their Division One title defence.

The reigning LV= County Championship Division One champions have suffered somewhat of a title hangover at the start of 2012, losing their opening two fixtures, both at home, to give their rivals an early headstart.

Sussex and Warwickshire both left Lancashire's Aigburth out-ground with victories, leaving the Red Rose county bottom of the table at the early stages of a long campaign.

Captain and Lancashire stalwart Chapple admits has been disappointed by the start, however he insists his side are not far away from turning fortunes around.

He told Sky Sports News HD: ""We've had two bad results but we've been working hard all along, obviously we've got areas to address but as long as the attitude is right and the commitment is right, which it has been, I've got no complaints on that score.

Quality

"Obviously we're desperate to turn around our form. In the last game (against Warwickshire) we played some really good cricket and we were in command of the game for a large chunk of it. Just one partnership took it away.

"We played some quality cricket with both bat and ball but we were just a bit inconsistent and we paid for it.

"We would have backed ourselves to play slightly more consistent cricket and if we had we would have come out on top. As I said, the quality has been there, just not all day and we're looking to improve on that."

Lancashire return to their revamped Old Trafford home next month to contest their first, first-class fixture at the Manchester venue since September 2010.

Nottinghamshire, co-incidentally the opposition the last time Lancashire played County Championship cricket at their familiar base, arrive on May 2 for a four-day fixture, and Chapple admits he is relishing the prospect of returning home.

He added: "It's exciting to get back to what's half a new stadium, I suppose. It's looking really good and I can't wait to get back playing there.

"We're working hard, everyone knows we are still good cricketers, we've just got to put our form on the pitch and get stuck in. We're looking for a good result."